Sanitary napkin



Sept. 26, 1967 J. A. GLAssMAN SANITARY NAPKIN 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJune l0, 1964 INVENTOR JACOB A. GLASSMAM ditty SePt- 26, 1967 1.A.GLAssMAN 3,343,543

SANITARY NAPKIN Filed June lO, 1964 n 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 111111111l v I13 iz@ i4 11 INVENTOI JACUB A. GLASSMAN miga/T@ United States PatentGiice 3,343,543 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 3,343,543 SANITARY NAPKIN JacobA. Glassman, 1680 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach, Fla. 33139 Filed June 10,1964, Ser. No. 373,987 3 Claims. (Cl. 12S-290) This invention relates toimprovements in sanitary napkins and is specifically concerned with sucha napkin embodying structural features that insure total usage of allabsorbent portions thereof.

Heretofore, such napkins have been provided with an exterior shield onits bottom face and side edges only intended to serve as a barrier toprevent strike through and spill-over of menstrual wastes. Applicant hasestablished that when worn, such a napkin assumes a lateralcross-sectional shape of an inverted U. As a consequence, the uncoveredside margins of the top surface of the napkins thus folded come intocontact with the wearers thighs and menstrual wastes are divertedlaterally directly onto the thighs long before the napkin becomessaturated. This results in a feeling wetness and the wearer discards thepartially used napkin.

The present invention overcomes this objectionable characteristic of theknown napkin discussed hereinabove by the presence thereon of a moistureimpervious shield that covers the bottom surface, the side edges and thelongitudinal margins of the upper surface. Thus, when the napkin is wornand is distorted, when in place, into an inverted U-shape, there is abarrier on the marginal surfaces contacting the thighs hence, there isno spillover or strike through, or feeling of wetness Distribution ofmenstrual wastes throughout the entire body of the napkin is aidedmaterially by providing the central uncovered area of the top surface ofthe napkin with one or more longitudinal grooves or slits which acts astroughs to receive and contain menstrual wastes during the period ofabsorption. As a consequence, the menstrual wastes initially flowlongitudinally along the grooves or slits and are absorbed in a downwarddirection during such flow over the entire length of the napkin. Thisassures complete and total utilization of the entire body of the napkin.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novellyconstructed sanitary napkin.

Another object is to provide a napkin of the character described withnovel means to prevent the wearer from experiencing a feeling of wetnessAnother object is to provide a sanitary napkin with novel means toinsure total utilization of its absorptive capacity.

Another object is to provide in a sanitary napkin, one or morelongitudinal troughs in its top or body contacting surface.

Another object is to provide a sanitary napkin of the character referredto which is not expensive to manufacture, is readily deformed when inuse and is very efcient.

The structure by means of which the above noted and other advantages andobjects of the invention are attained will be described in the followingspecilication, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,showing preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of an improved sanitary napkin, showingpart of its exterior covering broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing the sanitarynapkin in use.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the napkin in the position assumed whilebeing worn.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the napkin in the position assumed whilebeing worn.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional View of another embodiment of thenapkin.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the FIG. 6 napkin, showing it in wearingposition.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of another form of napkinembodying the invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the FIG. 8 napkin, while being worn.

FIG. l0 is a transverse sectional View of another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. ll is a sectional view of the FIG. l0 embodiment, showing it in aposition of use.

The sanitary napkin, illustrated in one embodiment in FIGS. 1 through 5,is comprised of a substantially rectangular ilat body 11 of highlyabsorbent material such as cotton, crepe Wadding or other librousmaterial. This body may be in one piece or it may comprise superposedlayers of such materials. The body is partially enclosed in a moistureimpervious covering 12 which may comprise a sheet of plastic or otherwater proofed material or, if preferred, may be provided in the form ofa sprayon coating. In the latter instance it is preferred to usemethacrylate resin in ethyl acetate, employing dichloromonofluoromethaneand tricloremonouoromethane as propellants or some other effectivecolorless plastic spray materials including cellulose acetate butyratein an acetone solvent, and co-polymers of hydroxyvinylcloride acetate inan ethyl acetate-acetone solvent.

Irrespective of the specific material used or the manner of itsapplication, the non-absorbent impervious covering 12 is provided acrossthe entire bottom surface of the absorbent body 11, over bothlongitudinal side edges thereof and over the longitudinal margins of itstop surface. It is intended that the marginal areas covered by saidcovering constitute not less than 2/3 of the body width. That is, eachmargin covering 12a has a width substantially equal to one-third of thebody width leaving a central area 11a of about one-third uncovered.

The body 11 with its attached moisture impervious coating 12 is enclosedin a layer of crepe paper 13 of a kind that is highly absorbent andlongitudinally grooved and the whole is then enclosed in a thin layer ofopen mesh fabric 14, such as gauze, which fabric is of a length greaterthan the length of the body so as to provide end portions 1S useful forattaching the napkin to a support belt or the like. The free edges ofthe wrapped around gauze 14 are overlapped, as at 14a, slightly in -thetop central longitudinal tarea of the napkin.

It has been established that when a napkin is arranged in an in-useposition, as shown for example in FIG. 3, it assumes substantially theshape of an inverted U, the exact degree of folding being determined bythe spacing between the thighs 16 of the wearer. When this foldingoccurs, the covering 12a on the top margins of the body are disposedtoward and in opposition to the thighs and there can be nostrike-through of liquids or blood sidewise through the napkin and ontothe thighs.

In order to enhance the rate of absorption by the napkin body, novelmea-ns is provided to insure that menstrual fluids deposited on the topcentral portion 11a of the body are spread rapidly throughout the lengththereof while being retarded against flowing laterally toward the sides.This is best accomplished -by providing, in the exposed top surface 11aof the body, one, two or more longitudinal troughs 17, which troughsterminate short of the ends of the body. More specical'ly, these troughsmay be formed by mechanical compression of the body of the napkin or bycutting slits therein at the time of its manufacture so as to formlongitudinal grooves or surface slots therein. Similarly, the crepepaper 13 overlying the troughs is longitudinally grooved to lie therein.All menstrual fluids owing into the trough or troughs flows in alongitudinal direction toward the ends of body 11 and is labsorbeddirectly from the top surface downwardly into the mass of the body andover its entire length by capillary attraction and gravity. A layer orlayers of longitudinally wrinkled or grooved absorbent crepe paper 18 isarranged in the body of the napkin between its upper and lower faces toretard ilow of uids to the Ibottom region thereof. This insures totalabsorption by the upper region before a material quantity of the wastefluids reaches and is absorbed -by the lower portion. Preferably, thelayer 18 is narrower than the width of the napkin.

=Fluid absorption =by the napkin is accomplished without loss of fluidslaterally as occurs in napkins of known construction owing to theinvariable creation of lateral wrinkles 19 (FIG. 5) generated when thenapkin is curved longitudinally lbeneath the wearers body. When thenapkin is worn the overlapped ends 14a of the outer covering 14 spreadapart and the central trough 17 functions to intersect such wrinklesthus converting lateral spread to longitudinal spread.

Y Utilization of the full capacity of the body of the pad, withoutspill-over or strike through at the effective sides, greatly increasesthe luseful life of the sanitary napkin and increases user satisfaction.Such full capacity absorption has been established by in-vivo testswhich clearly demonstrated that menstrual fluids deposited on thecentral one-third of the top surface of the napkin disperses in alongitudinal direction along the trough or slits and thus is absorbedover the entire length of the body and into the total mass of said body.

In order to insure that, when applied, the napkin assumes the desiredinverted iU-shaped configuration easily, applicant provides also agrooved or otherwise weakened zone in the longitudinal center of thebottom face of the napkin body. This is shown as a compression formedgroove 21 which may or may not include the moisture resistant covering12. Such weakening as =by groove 21 reduces the resistance to foldinginto inverted U-shape, and increases wearer comfort.

In the FIG. 6-7 embodiment there is provided in the top longitudinalcenter of the body 11 a wide trough 17a that lies against and conformsto the wearers vulva so as to insure central longitudinal How ofmenstrual fluids. In other respects the sanitary napkin shown is likethe one discussed hereinabove and like numerals identify correspondingparts.

'I'he FIG. 8-9 structure is similar to that shown in FIG. 2, except thathere the two side grooves are formed by deep cut slits 17b. When thisnapkin is worn, the slits open up as shown in IFIG. 9, to insure thatthe central grooved portion fits snugly against the vulva of the wearer.Like numerals have been used to identify parts corresponding to those inthe FIG. 2 disclosure.

In the FIG. l() and 11 disclosure, there is illustrated a napkin which,when worn, forms a longitudinal tampon. As shown, the top uncoveredcentral region of the napkin is formed with a pair of laterally spacedlongitudinal slits 17C. When the napkin is worn, as shown in FIG. 11,the medial portion between slits 17C projects into the vaginal cleft toreceive menstrual uids before it leaves the vulva.

' Although I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description thereofis intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many detailsof the structures disclosed may be modied or changed without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desireto be restricted to the exact constructions described.

I claim:

1. A sanitary napkin comprising a at substantially rectangular mass offluid absorbent material having a body contacting top surface, a bottomsurface and side surfaces; a fluid resistant barrier overlying thebottom surface, the side surfaces and longitudinal marginal areas of thetop surface; each longitudinal marginal area cornprising approximatelyone-third the width of the absorbent mass so as to leave thelongitudinal medial portion of the top surface uncovered; and a pair oflongitudinal laterally spaced grooves in said medial portion, saidgrooves terminating short of the ends of said mass and defining betweenthem an area that will protrude from the top surface of the mass in theform of a ridge when the mass is folded along a medial longitudinal lineinto an inverted U-shape.

2. The napkin recited in claim 1, in which a thin layer of loosely wovenmaterial is wrapped around the absorbent mass with its longitudinalmeeting edges normally overlying said medial portion of the top surfaceof the mass.

3. The napkin recited in claim 1, in which a 1ongitudinal groove ispresent in the bottom surface to facilitate longitudinal folding.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,027 12/1957 Makela 128--2902,896,627 7/1959 Harwood 12S-290 2,952,260 9/ 1960 -Burgeni 128-290`2,968,304- 1/ 1961 De Woskin 128-290 2,971,511 2/1961 Harwood 12S- 290RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

C. F. ROSENBAUM, Examiner.

1. A SANITARY NAPKIN COMPRISING A FLAT SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR MASS OFFLUID ABSORBENT MATERIAL HAVING A BODY CONTACTING TOP SURFACE, A BOTTOMSURFACE AND SIDE SURFACES; A FLUID RESISTANT BARRIER OVERLYING THEBOTTOM SURFACE; THE SIDE SURFACES AND LONGITUDINAL MARGINAL AREAS OF THETOP SURFACE; EACH LONGITUDINAL MARGINAL AREA COMPRISING APPROXIMATELYONE-THIRD THE WIDTH OF THE ABSORBENT MASS SO AS TO LEAVE THELONGITUDINAL MEDIAL PORTION OF THE TOP SURFACE UNCOVERED; AND A PAIR OFLONGITUDINAL LATERALLY SPACED GROOVES IN SAID MEDIAL PORTION, SAIDGROOVES TERMINATING SHORT OF THE ENDS OF SAID MASS AND DEFINING BETWEENTHEM AN AREA THAT WILL PROTRUDE FROM THE TOP SURFACE OF THE MASS IN THEFORM OF A RIDGE WHEN THE MASS IS FOLDED ALONG A MEDIAL LONGITUDINAL LINEINTO AN INVERTED U-SHAPE.